Chapter 103: Chapter 103 The Fall of the Durnholde
"It's been a day, and there's still no news from the front lines. The Horde and the Alliance are still locked in a stalemate." Alleria spoke with Leylin atop the watchtower in Durnholde.
Leylin sat on a bench with a broken plank, playing with an arcane orb in his hand. This was something he kept on doing to pass time. It may seem like playing to others but to Leylin this is another way of improving his control of magic.
"To be precise, this is news from half a day ago. Scouts never bring firsthand information." Leylin circled the arcane orb around his body, then slowly made it disappear.
No matter the time or the danger, whenever he had free time, Leylin would pursue further magical studies.
Meanwhile, on the grassland ten kilometers ahead of Durnholde under the cover of night, rustling sounds arose. Orc troops had entered the domain area within Leylin's sensing range.
"They're here!" Leylin waved casually, and then readied his gear ready to face this upcoming enemies. Taking down the bow and arrows hanging on the wall, Alleria said warily, "You sensed it? How many soldiers do they have?"
Leylin couldn't tell the exact number but he could only sense enemy movements, still it was already enough for him to know where they currently are. His sensing ability needs to be strengthened more so he could perceive the exact numbers.
"I can't be sure, but we need to prepare now." He and Alleria descended the watchtower.
The hurried footsteps caught Lieutenant Blackmoore's attention. He emerged from the plaza not far from the castle: "Is there any unusual activity, Mage?"
"The orcs are approaching us. We must prepare for battle!" Leylin said solemnly.
Hearing of the orcs' attack, Blackmoore's calm eyes blazed with fire, and he excitedly drew his silver longsword from his waist.
"Soldiers, Gavinrad has not sent us to Tarren Mill, but has instead sent us back to our original garrison. However, the opportunity for glory is always fair. Prepare for battle!" Spurring on the soldiers, over six hundred men in full armor scaled the walls of Durnholde Fortress.
"Your Excellency, I must admit, you are indeed farsighted." Blackmoore said respectfully.
"I hope we will meet here again tomorrow morning. Good luck, brave warriors." Leylin blessed.
After Leylin returned to the elven forces, Alleria was already giving orders for the battle plan. The soldiers prepared diligently, and soon the torchlight illuminated the walls of Durnholde. They awaited the orcs' northward advance.
As two scouts on horseback, carrying a request for reinforcements, rushed towards Tarren Mill, the sound of the orcish horde's advance crossed the horizon and reached Alleria's ears.
Elves have long, sharp ears, and Alleria, with her unique perception, heard the orcs' voices.
"Less than 2 kilometers, and they're advancing very quickly. Judging by this marching pattern, they want to launch a surprise attack!" Alleria's sharp mind analyzed the orcish overseer's attack plan.
Alleria's guess was correct; the orcs were indeed thinking the same thing. Standing in the passageway of the city wall, the rangers were tense, their keen eyes fixed on the orcs appearing in the firelight.
"Fire! Fire! Let them taste the good stuff left behind by Durnholde!" An elderly, experienced gunner skillfully loaded ammunition, and several shells, streaking with fire, exploded among the orcish troops.
This was the signal before the battle. A tidal wave of orcs, shouting and roaring, used siege engines made from giant logs to ram the gates of Durnholde.
The rangers remained calm, using the terrain to their advantage, firing their arrows at the orcs' weakest points. Every arrow hit its mark; this was the creed the rangers had upheld during their training and education.
The orcs were numerous, and using ladders, they began scaling the walls of Durnholde Keep. For the Alliance soldiers, the orcs attacking these fortifications had a significant advantage. However, they hadn't anticipated that the orcs weren't just soldiers; they also had their own 'mages'.
Shadowfire crashed against the walls, creating violent explosions, forcing the human soldiers to raise their shields to defend themselves.
Molten cores of flame, lightning strikes, and sharp wind blades—these tiny spells rained down on the soldiers.
These were the orc tribal shamans, assisting the Horde soldiers in their own way.
"Alleria, lock onto those orcs dressed in cloth and black attire, shoot them!" Leylin reminded Alleria, shooting down the warlocks secretly deployed behind the orc ranks.
Unlike the rangers, Leylin led his elven warriors, weaving through the walls, directly confronting these orcs who appeared to be scaling the castle. Under Tyr'ganal's restrictive frost magic cover, Leylin's arcane and fire magic wiped down several waves of orcish attacks.
However, the orcs' sacrifice was only temporary. The orcs attacking Durnholde were not the first to set foot here; a continuous stream of orcs rushed in from Southshore.
Tarren Mill, under a feint attack, was exploited by the cunning and shrewd tall orc warchief, Lothar's initial impression of him—that he only knew how to launch devastating attacks on cities and fortresses.
Not only that, but catapults and siege engines that had crossed from the south also played their part. Durnholde, as the closest and most easily accessible point for advancing north into the Hinterlands, was a place the Horde was determined to capture.
Huge boulders roared down from the sky, these boulders, coated with scorching lava by the shamans, shattered against the city walls. With the impact of a single boulder, dozens of Alliance warriors were immediately swept away. Their armor and bodies were crushed by the boulder.
"Shields up! Dodge!" Lieutenant Blackmoore shouted.
Blackmoore picked up a fallen soldier's white shield and, along with a dozen or so warriors, gathered their shields together, attempting to stop the boulders from breaching the city wall.
In truth, relying solely on human strength to accomplish such a task was undoubtedly a pipe dream. However, it was too early to lose hope; the high-ranking mages Leylin and Tyr'ganal could help them.
Tyr'ganal activated [Icy Veins], gathering large frost energy behind Leylin. Several ice spikes were launched in front of Leylin, casting in between [Blizzard] and [Frostbolt].
The surrounding frost extinguished the flames on the boulders instantly. Leylin, positioned in front of the boulders, activated [Evocation] then [Arcane Surge], unleashing an [Arcane Orb].
The boulders were large but with Leylin's current surge of power it easily crushed them. Lessening the burden of the soldiers defending, he then blinked and the rest were left to the shield-bearing soldiers.
"Boom!"
Scattered boulders littered the city wall, and the shield-bearing soldiers scattered around. After the three boulders were destroyed, the tribe's catapults ceased operation. Perhaps they hadn't mined many such heavy weapons while on the coast.
But the attack was far from over; the orcs continued their breaching of the city, and at the same time, several giant dragons, spewing blazing flames, appeared in the pitch-black night sky!
Weekly Power Status
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